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Santa Cruz County homeless advocates on Jan. 18 released a request for proposals to help address the growing number of people living on the streets.

The Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola is hosting its annual “Dine for the Red Cross” fundraiser on Jan. 15.

This year, however, could prove to be one of the organization's most difficult in its three-decade history. The loss of Toys R Us, which shut down all of its stores in the nation in June, could result in 1,500 fewer toys this year, according to Valadez.

Add another pair of accomplishments to Hannah Hocom’s impressive 2017-18 season. The Aptos High star junior basketball player was named an Academic All-American by the National High School Coaches Association late last month, and also earned a spot on Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Underclassmen Third Team. A starting guard for the Mariners each of the last three seasons, Hocom was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player after leading Aptos to its first league title since the 2000-01 season. This newspaper also selected the 5-foot-9 sharpshooter as our Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday laid the groundwork for a ban on single-use disposable cups by unanimously approving a 25-cent charge for the product at all food-service businesses. The charge will go into effect on July 1, 2020 if given...

NBA G League President Malcolm Turner speaks during a luncheon at the Seascape Resort recently. Photo by Mark Stover

Aaron Lowe has been tapped as the new fire chief of the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District, the board of directors recently announced. Lowe was selected from a field of 31 applicants after a five-month nationwide recruitment process, according to fire district officials. His base salary is $190,000, according to a contract approved by the board of directors on April 12. “I’m truly excited about coming to the Aptos/La Selva area,” said Lowe, who begins his new post on April 23. “When this opportunity came up, I was thrilled. It’s quite an amazing opportunity that I did not want to pass up.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 13 the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will open its gates once again for five days of family-friendly fun. Event organizers are currently preparing for what they believe will be another successful year at one of the region's most popular fairs.

For more than three decades Ana Ortega has been making folks happy. As the owner of Ana’s Flowers, a modest flower tent adjoining the long-standing Capitola Produce, she has thrown her talent and keen eye into making dazzling flower arrangements for everyone from everyday passersby to grand-scale events.

APTOS — When he was in school, Brandon Gruber occasionally found himself in the role of the underdog, and occasionally the target of bullies. But he always rose above it. Gruber, now 22, is hoping he can help others do the same. He recently launched the Diamond Awards, for students who find themselves in similar situations. This can include those that are struggling to learn English or those with special needs, who may otherwise be overlooked.